A Better Later follows classmates Pete and Emily as their lives move parallel to one another, each carrying the same burden from different homes. Bred in confusion, fear, and careful self-protection, they must overcome what they inherited in order to trust the parents who stayed.

At the same time, their parents, Ron and Whitney, are left to navigate a world of solitude, sacrifice, and responsibility, making decisions that will find their way into what comes next.

Set within the world of Half of Us, this short story serves as an introduction to a forthcoming anthology, where lives extend beyond their origins, and in time, the clouds clear.

Available to read in full, exclusively on this site.